observations from a gravestone in bowness

brother and sister run around the graveyard,
playing chase – mom and dad encourage them
their melodious laughter fills the air

a young man, shirtless, with a rope tied on his back
proceeds to light a cigarette, put on his shirt,
retie the rope to his back, and walk on carrying a jug of cider

tourists walk by – sunglasses, backpacks, and cameras
all shapes and sizes – young and old –
Asian and European – a boy carries oars,
a big tourist bus momentarily obstructs the view
of the old house built of oak and mortar

a baby crow squawks – quite still in the grass,
it sits for so long – finally it hops away to find food,
still not used to its wings

I go unnoticed sitting on the gravestone